A woman accused of 36 sex crimes involving minors is a local teacher, police have revealed.
Jaclyn Lindsay McLaren, also known as Jaclyn (Jackie) Jones, 36, of Stirling is free on a $100,000 bond and strict conditions after her bail hearing Friday in Belleville court.
Ontario Provincial Police then announced she was facing several more charges – and employed as a teacher with the Belleville-based Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
Sgt. Peter Leon said the charges now involve four young people ages 12 to 15 and date from 2013 to 2016. Investigators say the incidents occurred in Tweed, 37 km northeast of Belleville.
McLaren is now charged with three counts of making child pornography and one count of making sexually explicit material available to children.
She’s also charged with with four counts each of sexual assault on a person younger than 16, sexual interference with a person younger than 16 and making an invitation to sexual touching involving a person younger than 16.
McLaren is charged further with eight counts of sexual exploitation, six counts of luring a person younger than 16 and six counts of making sexually explicit material available to a person under 16.
Leon said the exploitation charge relates to crimes committed by someone in position of trust, while the luring charge relates to “making an offer to meet, to carry out something.”
Police said they launched their investigation Feb. 14. The next day, they charged the teacher, holding her in custody through the week for a bail hearing which spanned three appearances at Belleville’s Quinte courthouse.
Board education director Mandy Savery-Whiteway said McLaren “is not at work.
“Child and youth counsellors are at schools to support students, as needed,” she wrote in an e-mail to The Intelligencer.
“We are co-operating with police and will also be undertaking our own investigation,” she wrote.
“Student safety and well-being are always our first priorities at all times.”
She added the board would offer no further comment
The Ontario College of Teachers directory lists McLaren as a specialist in teaching French as a second language. She’s listed as a member since 2008 and in good standing. “Good standing” means only that a person is a paid, registered member certified to teach in a given year, the website reads.
In an interview, McLaren’s Belleville lawyer, Pieter Kort, cautioned against rushing to judgment.
“One of the unfortunate realities is that many members of the public operate under the presumption of guilt,” he told The Intelligencer.
“The assumption is if someone’s charged by the police they must be guilty,” said Kort.
“Recent developments in the administration of justice reflect the reality that oftentimes people that are charged with serious offences are not actually guilty of any crime,” he said, “and a Crown case that seems like a slam-dunk falls apart during the course of a public hearing there the evidence is heard and tested.”
Kort and Hastings County assistant Crown attorney Adam Zegouras made a joint submission that McLaren should be released and a publication ban on her name be lifted. Justice of the Peace Sam Cureatz agreed.
That resolution, however, came only after some lengthy closed-door consultations between the officials plus Crown attorney Lee Burgess and assistant Crown Lynn Ross.
McLaren, who is of medium height with long black hair, entered the court wearing a long black winter coat. As is typical of prisoners before the court, she sat in the prisoner’s box while bound by handcuffs and leg shackles.
Publication bans prevent the release of any evidence heard during the bail hearing and the release of any information which could identify the minors.
McLaren, appearing composed, stood quietly as lawyers and Cureatz spoke. The justice of the peace outlined the conditions of her release, including living with her parents, who must act as sureties and accompany her whenever she leaves their home.
Cureatz ordered McLaren not to have any contact with the four minors or with any male person younger than 18. She must avoid public places where minors may gather and cannot have a mobile phone or pager. Any computers in her parents’ home were to be removed within 48 hours and McLaren must not possess weapons.
Once released from the prisoner’s box and unshackled, McLaren walked to her parents. She broke immediately into sobs as she hugged each of them.
“She’s devastated,” Kort said.
“My client will have her day in court where she answers to these charges,” he said.
“I firmly believe my client was entitled to bail,” said Kort.
“She’s a woman with no criminal record.”
He predicted a lengthy court process.
“I think even disclosure in this case will take months.”
Disclosure involves the sharing of evidence between the Crown and defence.
“We certainly hope that if there are other victims that they’ll come forward,” assistant Crown attorney Lynn Ross said.
“There always is the possibility that … additional charges could be laid if additional information is received,” added OPP Sgt. Peter Leon.
“The police can’t investigate if we don’t know what’s gone on,” he said. He pledged police will investigate all tips “no matter how big or small.
“There’s also the option of Crime Stoppers if someone wishes to remain anonymous.”
Cases such as the sexual assault trial of former broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi have revealed the scrutiny victims may face in court. Leon said justice officials work to the best of their ability to prepare victims for trials.
“The process is very much explained throughout. One of the greatest things we want to prevent is any form of re-victimization,” he said.
Police ask anyone with information on the McLaren case to call 1-888-310-1122 and ask for the Central Hastings OPP crime unit. Anonymous tips may be made to Crime Stoppers at www.tipsubmit.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). People who contact Crime Stoppers do not have to give their names or testify in court.
McLaren is to return to court March 31.
Kort said further developments are unlikely on that date since the hearing will deal with the ongoing disclosure of the Crown’s case.
lhendry@postmedia.com